Radiator shield



Oct. 11, 1927.

W. S. PRITCHARD RADIATOR SHIELD Filed Dec. 28, 1925 Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,644,690 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. IPRITCHARD, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO MOTOR PRODUOTS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RADIATOR SHIELD.

Application filed December as, 1925. Serial No. 77,902.

The invention relates to shields for radiators and is adapted particularly for use with radiators of motor vehicles. One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a 6 shield for protecting a radiator including relatively movable protecting sections, which are also movable away from the radiator to provide for different exposures of the portions of the radiator normally covered by these sections. Another object is the provision of an improved mounting for the shield adapted to alternatively secure the shield to different types of radiators. A further object is the provision of means operable from a remote position to actuate the shield sections. With these as well as other objects in View the invention resides in the novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings Figures 1 and 2 are front elevations of a radiator shield embodying my invention at tached to a radiator and showing the protecting sections in closed and open positions, respectively Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Figure 1 and showing the manner of securing the shield to the radiator;

Figures 4 and 5 are cross sections respectively on the lines 4-4 and 55 of Figure 2 and showing the actuating mechanism for the shield sections.

As shown in the present instance, the shield is secured immediately adjacent to and in advance of the radiator 1 of the motor vehicle. This shield has a frame with the marginal portion 2 located in substantially the same plane and the forwardly offset portion 3 provided with the vertically extending ribs 4 between each of which and also between the outer ribs and the edges of the offset portion are the openings 5 for the passage of air. The offset portion 3 is connected to the marginal portion 2 by means of the imperforate inclined portion 6. 7 is the upper protecting section of the shield pivotally connected at its upper edgeto the offset portion 3 at the upper ends of the openings 5 as by means of the hinges 8. 9 is the intermediate protecting section pivotally connected at its upper edge to the lower edge of the upper section by the hinges 10. 11 is the lower protecting section pivotally connected at its upper edge to the lower edge of the intermediate section by the hinges 12,. the lower edge of this lower section being free to swing. Both the intermediate sectlon and the lower section are preferably provided with vertically extending openings 13 for registering with the ribs 4 so that when the protecting sections are moved to closed position they closely engage the ribs as well as the edges ofthe ofl'set portion 3 and cooperate therewith to prevent air from passing through the shield to the radiator.

To secure the shield to the radiator clips 14 are provided upon the shield frame for embracing the front wall of the shell 15 of the radiator. These clips are preferably located near the top and bottom of the up right portion of the shield frame and are also located in advance of the core 16 of the radiator. Consequently, the shield securing means does not interfere with or damage the core and the shield may be secured to different types of radiators or in other words to radiators having different types of cores. In detail, each clip comprises the stationary member 17 and the longitudinally reciprocable member 18 adapted to be adjusted toward each other by the screw 19. The stationary member 17 has its inner end portion rigidly secured to the frontface of the inclined portion 6 of the shield frame and also preferably has the outer end portion 20 forwardly offset and spaced from the marginal portion 2 of the shield frame. The reciprocable member 18 is guided by'the yoke 21 upon the rear face of the marginal portion 2 of. the shield frame so that this reciprocable member mayslide transversely of the shield frame. The outer end portion of this reciprocable member is preferably slightly offset rearwardly while its innerend portion is inclined to engage the rear face of th inclined portion 6 of the shield frame, which latter limits the outward movement of the reciprocable member. The screw 19 extends through elongated openings in the outer end portion of the stationary member 17 and the marginal port-ion 2 of the shield frame, which openings extend transversely I front faces of these front walls. The screws may then be tightened to clamp the clip members firmly upon the front walls of the shell. It will be seen that the means for securing the radiator shield to the radiator is independent of the radiator core and fur-- thermore permits of readily securing the shield to the radiator'without interfering with or damaging the core.

For the purpose of actuating the protecting sections of'the radiator shield to move the same away from the shield frame and allow air to pass through the openings 5 thereof, I have provided the longitudinal reciprocable rod 22 having its front end pivotally connected to theupper edge of the intermediate protecting section 9 of the shield and its rear end terminating in rear of the dash of the motor vehicle for engagement by the operator. The pivotal connection between the rod and intermediate section is formed in the present instance by the bar 23, which extends transversely of and is secured to the upper edge of the intermediate section and has a reduced cylindrical end engaging in an eye in the front end of the rod, the rod being secured to the bar by thenut 24. I have also provided the links 25 which extend between the shield frame and the lower protecting section 11 of the shield and have their lower ends rigidly secured to this lower section and their upper ends pivotally mounted in the brackets 26 upon the rear face of the ofiset portion 3 of the shield frame. The lengths of these links are such that when the rod 22 is shoved forward to move the protecting sections to open position, the intermediate section is maintained substantially parallel with the shield frame. Also the lower section is swung forfront wall of the radiator shell and laterally outward beyond the radiator core 16 and finally extends through the dash 28 of the motor vehicle and terminates in the handle 29. For holding the rod in various positions of longitudinal adjustment to hold the shield sections in various positions, the dash is provided with the lockplate 30 which is alternatively engageable in the notches 31 in the lower edge of the rod. The dash also has preferably, mounted thereon the spring pressed plunger 32 for yieldably forcing the rod downwardly-t0 retain the'lock' plate in engagement with the notches. To provide for slight differences in distances between i the point of pivotal connection of the rod to the intermediate shield section and the lockplate upon thedash, the rod is, preferably made of the forward and rearward sections 33 and 34, respectively, which are relatively longitudinally adjustably secured to each other by the screws 35 and 36. The screw 35 is threaded into the section 33 and extends through a longitudinal slot in the sec? tion 34, while the screw 36 is threaded into the section 34 and extends through a longitudinal slot in the section 33.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a simpleconst-ruction of radiator shield which is so arranged that one of the protecting sections may be moved to a greater extent than the other protecting sectionand that these protecting sections" 1 are simultaneously moved by a common actuating means and may occupy a number of positions intermediate the full open or closed positions to properly control the air passing through the shield to the radiator. It will also be seen that I have provided an improved mounting for the radiator shield which is so arranged that theshield may be secured to radiators of different types'owing to noninterference of the securing means with the radiator core. Furthermore, it will be seen that I have provided a simple actuating mechanism for the protecting sections of the shield, which mechanism may be operated -from a remote point and furthermore .is adjustable to take care of inaccuracies in distances between the radiators and dashes of motor vehicles. 1

What I claim as'my invention is:

1. The combination with a radiator, of a shield therefor including protecting sections having adjacent edges thereof hinged to each other and means for simultaneously moving said sections away from said radiator to expose the portion of the radiator normally protected by the lower section to a greater extent than the portion of the radiator normally protected by the other section. I

2. The combination with a radiator, of a shield therefor including a protecting sec= tion movable away from said radiator and a lower protecting section hinged to the section aforesaid movable away from said radiator to a greater extent than said'firstmentioned section and common means for moving said sections.

3. In a radiator shield, the combination with a frame and a pair of protecting sections movably mounted upon said frame and hinged to each other, of common means for moving one section away from said frame.

and for swinging the other of said section's away from said frame and about its hinged connection to said first-mentioned section to extend at an angle away from and in 'ad- Vance of said first-mentioned section.

4. In a radiator shield, the combination with a frame, of a protecting section movadvance thereof and spaced therefrom and substantially parallel thereto, and a second protecting section pivotally connected to said first-mentioned section and means for moving said first-mentioned section away from said frame and for swinging said second section to extend at an angle away from and in advance of said first-mentioned section.

5. In a radiator shield, the combination with a frame, of a protectingsection movable away from said frame. to a position in advance thereof and a second protecting sec tion pivotally connected to said first-mentioned section, and means for moving said first-mentioned section away from said frame and for swinging said second section, including a link extending between said frame and second section.

6. In a radiator shield, the combination with a frame, of a protecting section hinged at one edge to said frame, an intermediate protecting section hmged at one edge to said first-mentioned section and a third protectable away from said frame to a position in ing section hinged atone edge to said main protecting section, and means for moving said sections away from said frame, including a member connected to said intermediate section and a link extending between said third section and frame.

- 7. In a radiator shield, the combination with a frame, of a plurality of movable protecting sections associated with said frame, one of said sections hinged at one edge to said frame, a second section hinged at one. 1

edge to said first mentioned section and a third section hinged at one edge to the second section aforesaid, said second section when in extended position adapted to lie in a plane substantially parallel with the frame.

ture.

WILLIAM S. PRITCHARD.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa- 

